Trinidadian Calypso Legend Mighty Sparrow Dies at 91
His catalog of official recordings spans seven decades.
Trinidadian calypso legend Mighty Sparrow passed away on Sunday, September 27, at the age of 91. Born in Grenada's coastal town of Grand Roy in 1935, Sparrow moved to Trinidad & Tobago with his parents as a toddler and developed a lifelong passion for music. He began playing steel pan in his early teens and started his recording career in the early 1950s, achieving success with songs like "Missing Baby (Ruby)" and "High Cost of Living."
Sparrow's international appeal grew throughout the 1960s and 1970s, as he secured multiple Road March and Calypso King victories, signed with RCA Records, and recorded 11 albums in just five years. He became a fixture at Brooklyn's West Indian Day Parade and wrote songs inspired by the city's Caribbean diaspora. Sparrow's politically charged lyrics cemented his status as one of the most celebrated calypsonians of all time.
In 2008, he supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign with the original track "Barack the Magnificent." Following health complications, Sparrow returned to the stage in 2014 and released live albums throughout the years. Tributes from fellow musicians, such as King of Soca Machel Montano and Billboard's Caribbean Up-And-Comer Coutain, highlighted Sparrow's influence and legacy in the Caribbean music scene.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
